The following is a reprint from the Wilderness Rescue newsletter
for December 1995:

On the 29th November 1995 ten bushwalkers from Bushwalkers
Wilderness Rescue flew to Tasmania to assist in the private search for the
missing son of Sydney Bush Walker (SBW) Dot Butler, Wade. Wade had not been seen
since leaving on a solo six day round trip to Precipitous Bluff (PB) via the
southern ranges and return on the South Coast Track.

PB is an imposing long mountain, beside a coastal lagoon, that
seems to rise out of the ocean to 1220 in high. The side paralleling the lagoon
has outstanding cliffs of dolerite columns that give the mountain its name.

An extensive official search had retraced Wades footsteps and
found a very definite footprint at PB low camp. This is the last camp before
going up, over and down PB to New River Lagoon. The South Coast Track crosses
the mouth of New River Lagoon.

As the official search was ending, it was thought that a voice
was heard near a helipad beside Limestone Creek. Thus the private search
concentrated on the immediate area of “the voice” and other possible ways off PB.
Our radios were able to establish radio communications to the nearest town.
Mixed teams with number of Tasmanian Bushwalkers were able to comprehensively
search a number of areas.

Limestone Creek, which is a natural funnel that several ridges
feed into, was line searched down to New River Lagoon on both sides. All the
false leads at the bottom of the usual ridge were checked. Some of the Karst
country at the base of the mountain was searched. The search around the area of
“the voice” was thorough but found no trace of Wade.

Saturday afternoon, 2nd December, 1995 all volunteers were
airlifted out. On Monday fresh teams of Tasmanians continued the search until
Friday 8th December 1995. The private search was well led and organised by the
Tasmanians and added extensively to the area searched officially. All ways off
PB have been fleetingly to extensively searched. The Karst country with its sink
holes has had some searching but would need many more bushwalkers to completely
search it. The Southern Ranges and the South Coast track have been checked. No
extra evidence of Wades movements has been found.

Wilderness Rescue was all the time working behind the scenes
organising flights, budget details, updating information to all concerned.
Wilderness rescue is extremely grateful for the opportunity to assist fellow
bushwalkers in Tasmania. Wilderness rescue would like to thank Dick Smith for
his sponsorship. His planned budget was increased to assist the Tasmanians in
their second private search.

In 1995, the son of legendary Australian adventurer Dorothy Butler, headed off
for a six-day round trip to Precipitous Bluff, a mountain range in the
south-west (Tasmania).

An account of the search for Wade Butler recorded that a team of 10 had
"retraced his footsteps and found a very definite footprint at Precipitous Bluff
low camp".

"As the official search was ending, it was thought that a voice was heard near a
helipad beside Limestone Creek. Thus the private search concentrated on the
immediate area of the voice and other possible ways off PB," the report said.

But after hopes were raised, days of searching would lead to nothing, with
efforts to find Wade Butler abandoned soon after.